Hitch assembly

Abstract

A hitch assembly is provided with a hitch mount and a safety chain connector, both of which adjust to provide a hitch assembly which conforms substantially to the contour of the towing vehicle body when the hitch assembly is not in use. The hitch mount is configured for retractable extension from a hitch base plate, providing a seat for a matching trailer mount. The safety chain connector is configured to selectively provide a seat for a trailer-connected safety chain. The hitch base plate attaches to the towing vehicle body, defining a support surface which is contoured substantially similar to the body contour of the towing vehicle. The hitch mount and safety chain connector are adjustable such that the hitch assembly may be conformed generally to the body contour of the towing vehicle, thus minimizing any interference with the vehicle's use.

I claim: 
     
       1. A hitch assembly for use in coupling the towing vehicle with a to-be-towed vehicle, said hitch assembly comprising: a hitch base plate configured for attachment to the towing vehicle, said hitch base plate including a support surface contoured substantially similar to a body contour of the towing vehicle; and   a safety chain connector configured for selected extension from said hitch base plate to provide a seat for a safety chain connected to the to-be-towed vehicle;   said safety chain connector being adjustable to provide a hitch assembly which conforms generally to the body contour of the towing vehicle when said hitch assembly is not in use.   
     
     
       2. The hitch assembly of claim 1, wherein said hitch base plate defines a safety chain recess configured to house said safety chain connector, said safety chain connector being defined by a loop segment which retracts selectively into said safety chain recess. 
     
     
       3. The hitch assembly of claim 1, wherein said hitch base plate defines a safety chain recess configured to house said safety chain connector, said safety chain connector being defined by a pivotal flap having an eyelet which provides a seat for safety chains, said flap being pivotally adjustable to place said flap within said safety chain recess. 
     
     
       4. The hitch assembly of claim 1, wherein said hitch base plate defines a threaded safety chain recess configured to receive a safety chain connector defined by a correspondingly threaded eyelet member configured for removable attachment to said hitch base plate to selectively provide a seat for a safety chain of the to-be-towed vehicle. 
     
     
       5. The hitch assembly of claim 1, wherein said hitch base plate defines a safety chain recess configured to selectively capture said safety chain connector,; said safety chain connector including a generally T-shaped keeper portion configured for selected insertion and removal through said safety chain recess to selectively hold said safety chain connector in place, and an eyelet portion which provides a seat for a safety chain of the to-be-towed vehicle, said safety chain connector being adjustable by manipulation thereof to remove said keeper portion from said safety chain recess. 
     
     
       6. The hitch assembly of claim 1, wherein said hitch base plate defines a safety chain recess configured to house said safety chain connector, said safety chain connector being defined by a generally planar tab pivotally adjustable in a plane defined by said tab between an extended orientation wherein said tab extends upwardly through said safety chain recess of said base plate to reveal an eyelet which may be used to secure safety chains of the to-be-towed vehicle to the hitch assembly, and a retracted orientation wherein said tab is beneath said base plate. 
     
     
       7. The hitch assembly of claim 1 which further comprises a hitch mount configured for selected extension from said hitch base plate to provide a seat for a matching mount of the to-be-towed vehicle, said hitch mount being selectively removable from said base plate. 
     
     
       8. The hitch assembly of claim 1 which further comprises a hitch mount configured for selected extension from said hitch base plate to provide a seat for a matching mount of the to-be-towed vehicle, said base plate defining a hitch mount recess configured to house said hitch mount, said hitch mount being pivotally retractable into said hitch mount recess. 
     
     
       9. A hitch assembly which secures to a generally planar body surface of a towing vehicle for use in coupling the towing vehicle with a to-be-towed vehicle, said hitch assembly comprising: a hitch base plate configured for attachment to the towing vehicle, said hitch base plate including a support surface contoured substantially similar to a body contour of the towing vehicle, and defining a safety chain recess;   a hitch mount configured for selected extension from said hitch base plate to provide a seat for a matching mount of the to-be-towed vehicle; and   a safety chain connector including a generally T-shaped keeper portion configured for selected insertion and removal through said safety chain recess to selectively hold said safety chain connector in place, and an eyelet portion which provides a seat for a safety chain of the to-be-towed vehicle, said safety chain connector being adjustable by manipulation thereof to remove said keeper portion from said safety chain recess;   said hitch assembly being adjustable by manipulation of the safety chain connector to remove said keeper portion from said safety chain recess, and being adjustable by manipulation of said hitch mount to remove said hitch mount from extension from said base plate, thereby adapting said support surface to lie generally flush with the body surface of the towing vehicle when said hitch assembly is not in use.   
     
     
       10. The hitch assembly of claim 9, wherein said base plate includes a grip portion for selectively gripping a cross member of said keeper portion of said safety chain connector. 
     
     
       11. The hitch assembly of claim 10, wherein said keeper portion is removed from said safety chain recess by first positioning said cross member of said keeper portion below said grip portion, second, rotting said safety chain connector to bring said cross member into alignment with said safety chain recess, and third, lifting said safety chain connector to draw said keeper portion through said safety chain recess. 
     
     
       12. The hitch assembly of claim 9, wherein said hitch assembly includes a plurality of safety chain connectors arranged symmetrically about said hitch mount. 
     
     
       13. The hitch assembly of claim. 9, wherein said hitch mount is selectively removable from said base plate. 
     
     
       14. The hitch assembly of claim 9, wherein said base plate defines a hitch mount recess configured to house said hitch mount, said hitch mount being pivotally retractable into said hitch mount recess. 
     
     
       15. A hitch assembly which secures to a generally planar body surface of a towing vehicle for use in coupling the towing vehicle with a to-be-towed vehicle, said hitch assembly comprising: a hitch base plate configured for attachment to the towing vehicle, said hitch base plate including a support surface contoured substantially similar to a body contour of the towing vehicle, and defining a safety chain recess;   a hitch mount configured for selected extension from said hitch base plate to provide a seat for a matching mount of the to-be-towed vehicle; and   a safety chain connector including a safety chain connector defined by a generally planar tab pivotally adjustable in a plane defined by said tab between an extended orientation wherein said planar tab extends upwardly through said safety chain recess to reveal an eyelet which may be used to secure a safety chain of the to-be-towed vehicle to the hitch assembly and a retracted orientation wherein said tab extends downwardly from said base plate, thereby adapting said support surface to lie generally flush with the body surface of the towing vehicle when the hitch assembly is not in use.   
     
     
       16. The hitch assembly of claim 15, wherein said safety chain connector is pivotal about a pivot axis which is offset from a center of the tab so as to bias pivot of said tab toward either one of said retracted and extended orientations. 
     
     
       17. The hitch assembly of claim 15, wherein said hitch assembly includes a plurality of safety chain connectors arranged symmetrically about said hitch mount. 
     
     
       18. The hitch assembly of claim 15, wherein said hitch mount is selectively removable from said base plate. 
     
     
       19. The hitch assembly of claim 15, wherein said base plate defines a hitch mount recess configured to house said hitch mount, said hitch mount being pivotally retractable into said hitch mount recess. 
     
     
       20. The hitch assembly of claim 15, wherein said safety chain connector is defined by a generally planar D-shaped tab.